Pictured (from left); Sara Goulet, special adviser to the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; Dr. Florencia Polite, chief of the division of general obstetrics and gynecology at Penn Medicine; Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys; state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski; Dr. Pamela Levin, director of wellness in Penn Medicines department of obstetrics and gynecology; and Ashley Walkowiak, executive director of the Governor\u2019s Advisory Commission on Women. (Photo\/pacast)<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. \u2014 On August 26 \u2014 which is Women\u2019s Equality Day \u2014 the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) highlighted the free preventive screenings and services available to Pennsylvania women at no-cost though their health insurance plan. PID hosted the latest stop of its statewide women\u2019s health insurance informational tour in Philadelphia in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Human Services (DHS), the Governor\u2019s Advisory Commission on Women, joined by Penn Medicine.<\/p>\n
The tour, running through September, is designed to directly connect with Pennsylvania women in their communities to highlight what life-saving preventive services are covered at no cost through their health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. At each stop, women are also able to ask questions and share their experiences navigating the health insurance system.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is Women\u2019s Equality Day, and we want to celebrate it by bringing this important insurance information to Pennsylvania women directly. All women deserve health care that is accessible and affordable,\u201d said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. \u201cWe know that understanding what is available through your insurance can be the first step toward taking charge of your health. Our informational sessions seek to remind Pennsylvania women what preventive care and services they are entitled to at no additional cost.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo my fellow Pennsylvania women, I want to remind you that not only is it okay to take time to care for your own health \u2014it is vitally important you do so,\u201d said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. \u201cIn the U.S., heart disease and cancer are leading causes of death for both men and women. Prevention and early detection improve the outcomes of these diseases \u2013 adding years to your lives. That is why the Department of Health supports programs that provide free and accessible screenings for high blood pressure and breast and cervical cancers for women who do not have health insurance or are underinsured \u2013 cost shouldn\u2019t be a barrier. I encourage all women to get their recommended screenings based on their age and risk factors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cost should not be a barrier for preventive services. Staying up to date on preventive screenings and routine care can help women detect health issues earlier, make informed decisions, and stay healthier throughout their lives.<\/p>\n
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health insurance plans must cover many preventive health services for women at no out-of-pocket cost, meaning there is no deductible, copayment, or coinsurance when these services are received from an in-network provider. Covered preventive services include:<\/p>\n
Annual wellness visits<\/p>\n
Screening for urinary incontinence<\/p>\n
Screening for breast cancer<\/p>\n
Screening for cervical cancer<\/p>\n
Screening for anxiety<\/p>\n
Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence<\/p>\n
Breastfeeding services and supplies<\/p>\n
Contraception<\/p>\n
Counseling for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)<\/p>\n
Screening for HIV<\/p>\n
Screening for diabetes in pregnancy and after pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Department of Human Services is proud of the work we have done over the last three years to support women\u2019s health in Pennsylvania. A key part of that work is making sure women know that there are health care services available to them for free through Medicaid and most other health insurance plans,\u201d said Department of Human Services Special Advisor Sara Goulet. \u201cThat is why we are proud to join with our agency colleagues to talk about preventive care and getting the important screenings and checkups we need to be healthy. PA DHS encourages all women who are eligible to make the most of their health care coverage and schedule an appointment with a health care provider today.\u201d<\/p>\n
A 2025 PID survey of women across the Commonwealth found that 31% of Pennsylvania\u2019s women are very or somewhat unaware of the preventive services available to them at no-cost under the Affordable Care Act. The survey also showed that the top factors that influences a woman\u2019s decision to receive preventive health care services was cost, finding a provider, and time constraints. In 2024, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded PID $635,352 to improve women\u2019s access to critical health benefits across Pennsylvania. With these funds, PID launched a multifaceted campaign this summer focused on awareness and education about the importance of preventive care. Pennsylvania women can find a full list of listening tour dates and locations on PID\u2019s website at: www.pa.gov\/womenshealth<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen\u2019s Equality Day reminds us that equality is not just a principle we honor. It is a responsibility we carry forward,\u201d said Ashley Walkowiak, executive director of the Governor\u2019s Advisory Commission on Women. \u201cEnsuring women have clear, reliable access to preventive health care is a core part of that responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Pennsylvania women can learn more about health insurance by visiting PID\u2019s Women\u2019s Health Insurance webpage at: www.pa.gov\/agencies\/insurance\/public-hearings-outreach-and-special-projects\/womens-health<\/a>.<\/p>\n